You probably already know that you can manually install a fresh copy of Windows using your own install media. You can create this install media using Microsoft's tool, or you can use a tool like Rufus ...

Microsoft has blocked Rufus from downloading Windows 11 Insider Preview ISOs, marking the third time the open-source utility has faced restrictions.

This process is called a clean install, which is ironic as there's nothing particularly clean about it: Microsoft has enshittified Windows Setup.

Procrastinating on an OS upgrade? Here are a few ways to switch to Windows 11 for free.